MICHAEL MAROTAP Sports Writer Published: January 14, 2014 9:31 PM

The third-ranked Badgers (16-1, 3-1 Big Ten) were trying to become the first team ever to win 13 straight games over the Hoosiers (12-5, 2-2).

Wisconsin started the night as one of Division I's four remaining unbeaten teams and it looked like it would stay that way when the Badgers took a 10-point lead with 13:27 to play.

But the Hoosiers, playing their best game of the season, answered with 12 straight points to take a 54-52 lead with 9 minutes left.

Indiana led 70-65 with 2:03 remaining but still had to fend off Wisconsin's late challenge. Ferrell made two free throws with 18.3 seconds left to give Indiana the three-point lead and both of Wisconsin's potentially tying 3-pointers came up short.

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Traevon Jackson led the Badgers with a career-high 21 points.

The hometown fans stormed the court after Indiana won its second straight and prevented Wisconsin from tying another dubious record by winning its sixth in a row in Bloomington.

Instead, some of the young Hoosiers came up big.

While senior Will Sheehey scored 13 points, freshman Stanford Robinson added a career-high 13. And another freshman, Noah Vonleh had 10 points, five rebounds and two 3s.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, did not play its usual brand of mistake-free basketball. It turned the ball over 10 times, went just 1 of 4 from the free throw line and couldn't quite catch the Hoosiers late.

Jackson did everything he could to rally the Badgers after spending the final 8 minutes of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. He opened the second half by scoring Wisconsin's first nine points, helping the Badgers take a 52-42 lead with 13:27 to go.

But Ferrell, Sheehey and Robinson helped the Hoosiers storm back.

Gordon started Indiana's big run with a 17-footer. Sheehey and Robinson followed with consecutive layups and when Vonleh posted up for a short jumper in the paint with 9 minutes left, the Hoosiers led 54-52.

Indiana went up 70-65 on Ferrell's 18-footer with 2:03 to play.

After Wisconsin cut the led to 73-72 on Frank Kaminsky's putback with 28.5 seconds left, Ferrell hit two free throws and the Badgers missed the two 3-point attempts.